Tuesday, July 6, 2010

I am ashamed to say it has been since March since I have been here to post one blog post or view anyone's blog to see what everyone was up to.

Alot has been going on and I won't bore you with the long update. Let's just start from today and move forward with some life stories and UFO/quilty progress.

I have been slowly working on my crumb block for my UFO for the month of July and hope to show a completed top soon.

I have been working on my Start BOM Challenge and have made several more blocks ... I have also been making some blocks for the Christmas BOM Challenge and here are my blocks to date ...

Fabric usage/Stash Reporting .... I have used some fabric/thread and bought some too, not sure how much thought. I will start again with my stash report on Sunday and go from there. It may not be 100% accurate but it is the best I can do ;o)

I hope that everyone has been able to find some time to fit in some sewing or something they enjoy weekly. Life is too short to not find some joy in it.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

this month's Star BlockOne block for this month's Christmas Quilt AlongSecond block for this month's Christmas Quilt Along

I have been under the weather again this last week and haven't gotten much done. Here are some pictures of the blocks I have been working on and the totals for my stash usage for the Stash Busting Challenge On Judy's SiteFabric usage report ....Fabric Added this Week: 0 yardsFabric Added Year to Date: 4 yardsFabric Used this Week: .50 yardFabric gifted/sold this week: 0 yardsFabric Out Year to Date: 46.75 yards

Thread usage report --I still have over 51 spools of thread on hand - I hope to use half of these this year.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

I have been under the weather the last week or so and haven't gotten much done and failed to do the last Stash Report too. So let me catch up with some pictures of the blocks I have been working on and my usage for the Stash Busting Challenge On Judy's Site

here is a block for a seasonal block swap. I decided just to make four smaller blocks that have a Summer theme and join them to make my larger block that was required. I like how it came out, need to make three more to finish that swap.

here is the MS block done in green and cream for a Friendship Swap I am a part of.

Here is a Star block done in black and white for a Friendship Swap I am part of.

Thread usage report --I still have over 51 spools of thread on hand - I hope to use half of these this year.Spools added this week: 0 spoolsSpools used this week: 0 spoolsTotal Spools used to Date: 2 spoolsTotal Spools bought to Date: 2 spoolsuntil next time ... happy quilting

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Lookie what I found hiding in my garden this weekend??? Aren't these purple crocus pretty?

and look at the garden gnome that has come to help with my gardening? Isn't he just too cute? I have always wanted one of these and splurged and got him. Doesn't he just cheer you right up? He does me ;o)

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Didn't get to sew much this week. I made this tree block for the Year-long Christmas Sampler we are doing on a quilting site and I started some snowflake blocks that are due out next weekend.

My stash report for the week is not bad I guess but my usuage needs to be more each week instead of me selling/gifting it others. Check out Judy's Stash Busting Challenge for this year it will put you in the right direction to use what you have and keep you on track by posting with the rest of the bunch weekly like HERE

Thread usage report --I still have over 51 spools of thread on hand - I hope to use half of these this year.Spools added this week: 0 spoolsSpools used this week: 0 spoolsTotal Spools used to Date: 2 spoolsTotal Spools bought to Date: 2 spoolsuntil next time ... happy quilting

Monday, February 8, 2010

isn't it lovely! It has been snowing about two hours now and it's still coming down!! this is a treat for us in the south!

more photos of our snow day ... we played in the snow and had some fun. (We ended up with 3-4 inches of snow. It's raining now so ice is coming I'm sure.) Built some snowmen ... made snow angels and took lots of pictures. We also made snow cream and baked cookies. YUMMY! It's been a nice day indeed!

Sunday, February 7, 2010

I got to do some sewing this weekend and I am happy to say I have a FINISH!!! Yep, I can mark one UFO off my list for the year. That makes me feel good I can tell you. Not the best picture as I finished the binding this morning about 1AM so it had to be spread out in the living room to get it all in the picture. See I even used from my stash to piece the backing. TIRANE did the quilting for me of course ;o) and it looks fabulous!

I got my February's Star Block block ... it was harder than it loooks but I have that task marked off my list for February.

I made one of February's Christmas Sampler blocks. If you haven't guessed this one is a wreath. :o)

My stash report for the week is not bad I guess but my usuage needs to be more each week instead of me selling/gifting it others. Check out Judy's Stash Busting Challenge for this year it will put you in the right direction to use what you have and keep you on track by posting with the rest of the bunch weekly like THE OTHERS - everyone is doing so good this year.

Fabric usage report ....

Fabric Added this Week: 0 yards

Fabric Added Year to Date: 4 yards

Fabric Used this Week: .5 yard

Fabric gifted/sold this week: 7 yards

Fabric Out Year to Date: 37 yards (not a bad start)

Thread usage report --I have over 51 spools of thread on hand - I hope to use half of these this year.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

I am slowly learning that this is so true. I have been dealing with alot of private things that have made me unhappy to say the least but learning to make myself happy again has been hard to figure out. By my being unhappy my kids have suffered in the process and that makes me even sadder. Dealing with life is hard enough as a kid without anything else being added to their plate.I am taking steps to find a way to make me happy inside and out.First I joined and have been receiving daily emails from DivorceCare and this is helping me by me starting each day with the reading of the email and listening to it's words and praying about my life. I won't say more I don't want to sound preachy or affend anyone.Next ... I am learning to let some things go ... which means ... if I don't have enough time to do the dishes and the clothes each day it's okay! Time spent with the kids is more important. I find it hard to get everything done every day and have been stressing over it. Now ... I don't care if my house is spotless when company comes over. We live in a home and it's lived in and shows that we are enjoying life. Nothing wrong with it at all. For those who think I am wrong please don't come and smub your nose at me.Next ... I am learning to enjoy the little good things in life so that the little bad things don't seem so bad. For instance for supper last night ... we went to Ruby Tuesday's and ate dessert ... just dessert and it was yummy! Think about it for a minute, most of the time when you go out to eat you eat your supper and then are so full you can't have dessert without being sick. I had told the kids the last time we were there that we'd come back and eat just dessert, so I surprised them last night and we did just that. My daughter said, "Where is my mother and what have you done with her?" Simple things like this may change alot in our relationship. In time, I hope they see that I am not just the mean mom that makes them eat their veggies, brush their teeth, go to bed on time and get up and go to school.I know this is not my normal posting and I hope you don't mind my post today, I needed to write it so I can look back on it when I'm having a rough day and need a boost. Who knows someone else might have some tips out their to share or someone else might be going through the same thing and it will encourage them to take that first step to being happy about themselves and their life again. It is okay to be happy, we all deserve to be happy.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

See the date on this picture ... 2005!! and it is still not finished .. it sits in the cabinet waiting to be finished. I often wonder if I have turned into a piecer and I am not a true quilter. When I first started quilting I started and finished a project before even thinking of doing another one. Now I think I have Quilter's ADHD. I have gotten into the habit of starting a project ... piecing the blocks and maybe getting them into a top, if it is that lucky, then it sits and sits while I start another and yet another project. I have a wonderful friend Tirane who is a long arm quilter and does my quilting for me now that I turned into the piecer that I am. Yet I haven't been able to get myself into gear and get those UFOs/BOBs turned into real quilts. I am ashamed at the number of UFOs/BOBs I have in my sewing area. They are over running the place and yet I want to start new projects instead of finishing these. What is wrong with this picture? Am I just a piecer that is destined to have a ton of UFOs/BOBs forever haunting me? Is this a trait of a true quilter to have a large number of UFOs/BOBs sitting in their sewing rooms?I have my 2010 goals listed and show only SIX little UFOs to finish of my upteen UFOs that I have in there. January is almost over and I have one UFO at Tirane's being quilted but haven't touched another one. I caved in and joined a couple swaps instead. I created a new UFO and added blocks to a couple old UFOs in the progress. Is it just me or do you feel guilty for not finishing your UFOs/BOBs and wanting to start a new project instead?I was talking to a quilty friend last night and she does QOV quilts and will accept any tops I want to send her. I think this might be the answer to my prayers. Finishing tops and getting rid of UFOs/BOBs to free me from the guilt of starting new projects. This might be the way for me to get things thinned down in there. Part of the problem is that over time my taste in quilts has changed, my taste in fabrics has changed, my quilting skills have improved and my need to use what I have has taken over.I hope someone else out there is in the same boat as me and can cheer me on and I them to make 2010 the year to finish those UFOs/BOBs and use up that stash too. Helping me to remove the guilt from my shoulders for wanting to start that cute paper piecing wall hanging instead of finishing my crumb top.until next time ... happy quilting!!

Sunday, January 24, 2010

I think all quilters at some point look at their stashes and think ... oh my goodness, where did all that fabric come from and what in the world am I going to do with it all. Well ... I got to that point last year and joined Judy's Stash Busting Challenge and I am participating in Judy's Stash Busting Challenge for this year too. I have so many UFOs on my shelves and enough fabric to make lots and lots of finished project. This year is going to be another good year to complete UFOs and bust some stash. If you are in the same mindset - come join in and see how well you do this year. CHECK-OUT how the rest of the stash busters are doing.This was another good week, any amount busted is a good week right? I sold/swapped out some fabric and also made some swap blocks like these .... and working on some others (will post photos later maybe)

Thread usage report --I have over 51 spools of thread on hand - I hope to use half of these this year. I know I will have to add white and beige here and there to do certain blocks but plan on using those oddies for piecing backing and my string and crumb blocks.Spools added this week: 0 spoolsSpools used this week: 1 spoolTotal Spools used to Date: 2 spoolsTotal Spools bought to Date: 2 spools

Sunday, January 17, 2010

I'm am focusing this year on simplifing things and reducing the amount of 'things' around my house and that means in my sewing room too. I am choosing to do Judy's Stash Busting Challenge for 2010 .. come join in and see how well you do this year. HERE is a link to see how the rest of those in the challenge are doing.

This week, I think I did pretty good all things considered. I made a few blocks and sold some fabric.

Thread usage report --I have over 51 spools of thread on hand - I hope to use half of these this year. So I'm keeping track to see if I can. Bought beige and white this week. Spools added this week: 2 spoolsSpools used this week: 1 spoolTotal Spools used to Date: 1 spoolsTotal Spools bought to Date: 2 spools

Friday, January 15, 2010

... after the emotional week I've had this week. Piecing these blocks seemed fitting. I won't go into details but I lost a good friend of almost 25 years. It's hard to imagine him not here anymore. Please take some time to reconnect with friends who mean alot to you ... call if you can, write an email if you can't or send a text. Sometimes just a note can mean so much - who knows it might make their day a bit better and brighter.Sorry it's been really rough ... loosing my friend and another friend's sister all at once is just alot on a person. Makes one have a heavy heart.until next time ...

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Judy's Stash Busting Challenge for 2010 .. come join in and see how well you do this year.LOOK and see what the others are doing.I did pretty good this week. I made some blocks, sold some fabric and bought some fabric (I know that ain't good but ... it worked out) The fabric I bought is going right into a UFO so it will be busted soon. Nothing is coming in unless I have a plan for it.Fabric usage report ....Fabric Added this Week: 4 yardsFabric Added Year to Date: 4 yardsFabric Used this Week: 2yardsFabric gifted/sold this week: 6.5 yardsFabric Out Year to Date: 10 yards

Thread usage report --I have over 51 spools of thread on hand - I hope to use half of these this year. So I'm keeping track to see if I can.Spools added this week: 0 spoolsSpools used this week: 1 spoolTotal Spools used to Date: 1 spoolsTotal Spools bought to Date: 0 spoolsuntil next time ... happy quilting

Saturday, January 9, 2010

This week I've been up early each morning so I got a chance to work on some blocks for swaps that I am a part of ...I reworked this one for the Star BOM we are doing this year .. the points are now going the right directions.These are Depression Blocks for a fellow swapper for the Friendship Swap. These were made using some of my precut 4Inch squares.These are Pineapple Blossom blocks for another swappers in the Friendship Swap. These were made using precut 3.5 inch squares and 2" strips.We got some snow on Thursday ... not alot but enough to call it snow. It is still on the ground. The kiddos had two days off school due to the icy backroads around the area. They had fun while they were off. The little puppy just showed up at our house and now he won't leave. He is so full of energy and little man loves playing with him.Early Thursday Morning ... the snow is just starting. It almost looks fake in the pictures.time to get busy with some cleaning and maybe more sewing this afternoon.until next time ... happy quilting!

Sunday, January 3, 2010

and we're off ... this is going to be a year to reckon with. We'll be busting stash and workin on those UFOs (wait that isn't for this post) I'm joining Judy's Stash Busting Challenge for 2010 .. come join in and see how well you do this year.

This week I made Sadie Girl a doggie bed and was able to make some blocks. This week is kinda a smallish report. Next week will be better I know it ;o)

Saturday, January 2, 2010

I have been busy today, I even got the tree un-decorated. While out town this morning I stopped at the store and I bought two of those great three drawer unit and sorted and got this cabinet neater. Still need to go through each basket to see what is really in them and put all the blocks inot the drawer units. It's a start though.On one of the quilting site's I belong two we are doing a Christmas Quilt Along. We were to make two of the 6.5 inch Ribbon Star blocks to get us started for January. If you know me you know my quilt will be scrappy so here are my blocks ... made from my scrap basket.and we are doing a Star BOM too ... for January we are doing this block but I got it wrong can you tell?? so I had to take it apart and redo it. It is corrected now, the points don't all go in the same direction now ... lol. If you'd like to play along with us I'll be posting my pictures monthly ... you can choose your fabrics and make them to suit you. I chose purples and creams to go with some other blocks I have made already.

Friday, January 1, 2010

Today I have been bee bopping here there and everywhere on projects and tasks I wanted to do.I did some organizing in my sewing area. Sorted a basket of scraps.Made a couple Pineapple blocks and a couple more Crumb blocks. The 9inch Crumb block will be turned into a hotpad. All this was made from the above scrap basket and it is still kind a full but everything has been sorted and pressed, nice and neat again. Tomorrow I will make some more pineapple blocks and might throw in some crumb blocks too.

Cut backing and batting for this table runner I found while sorting the other day. I have it pinned and ready to quilt it tomorrow. This will be a new runner to use on the old Singer Cabinet in my living room.

I have enjoyed this first day of 2010. I hope you had a good day too. I am happy with the progress that I made on my UFO projects and my chores around the house. I need to tackle taking the Christmas tree down tomorrow (bummer ... I love Christmas and when the tree comes down the magic will be gone)

I have plans and goals for the coming year. I have been thinking about these since Thanksgiving. Some are personal but for those who read my blog you know me and are here to encourage me through my struggles and I appreciate ya'll for this.

2010 Quilty Goals1. Work on cleaning up my sewing area and getting it organized.2. Work on and hopefully finish SIX UFOs/BOBs this year.3. Make up precut kits while sorting and organizing this year.4. Not buy fabric - use from my stash or swap for what I need.

2010 Personal Goals1. Work on being a strong better me! I seem to always put myself last and it's time to change that a bit.2. Play with the kids more - let the other stuff go when it's my weekends with them. They are growing up so fast and I feel myself missing out on so much we could be doing together. Life is busy but it's time to find time for the fun things in life.3. Work on reducing the excess stuff around the house. Get things in order so it's easier to keep clean. My house may never be spotless but I want it clean enough for company to come without me freaking out. To get back to the basics of life ... what's really important will stay ... what's not is going in the next yard sale pile.4. Work on my weight - lose 20 pounds or more, to get up and get active again.5. Go on a real family vacation to .... not sure ... need to discuss this with the kiddos but it's in the plans for 2010. Hope to do this early Spring - Summer. Maybe to the mountains or go visit the beach.6. Get my finances in better shape, keep cutting those coupons and finding ways to save and reuse and such. Learn to live within my means better.

Things to try or learn in 20101. To stipple ... top of the list2. To try applique3. To make homemade bread

Quilts N Projects

Every story has an ending, in life every ending is really just a new beginning ...........
Mother, Daughter, Sister, Friend, Quilter, UFO collector, Scrap Buster ... Mother to two wonderful kiddos. I am a quilter, scrap quilts are my favorites. I am tackling the task of get my house and life a bit more organized so I can be more productive.